Shy Indians shop sexual wellness products online

New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Indians are more comfortable in buying sexual wellness products like sex toys, arousal gels, condoms, sprays and creams online rather than from retail shops owing to shyness, a new study has revealed.

Based on feedback received from users and buyers, the findings from ThatsPersonal.com, an e-commerce website selling adult products, showed that 76 percent of participants felt that buying sexual wellness products offline might make them feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.

Lubricants and condoms were the only two categories where more than 30 percent respondents felt comfortable in buying from the local pharmacies.

When it came to purchasing other products, male performance and women’s arousal products scored low on consumer confidence in terms of buying those offline. Only nine percent felt that they would be comfortable buying these products offline.

“Consumers prefer to purchase online due to the nature of the category. Various consumers are, however, opening to buying offline too which is a very encouraging sign. But consumers still remain shy while buying sexual wellness online,” said Samir Saraiya, founder of ThatsPersonal.com, in a statement.

Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Gurgaon were the cities where consumers were most comfortable buying sexual wellness online. Only 32 percent consumers from these cities felt comfortable in buying offline.

Eighty-seven percent consumers from cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Nagpur and Jaipur said they preferred the online mode of purchase for sexual wellness products.

Interestingly, Tier III cities responses revealed some very not so expected results. Overall, 63 percent of the responses from these cities said they would like to buy online only.

The rest were more than comfortable buying offline too. However, unavailability of these products offline in these cities made the online option as the only one.

According to the findings, consumers less than 24 years of age were more comfortable buying sexual wellness products offline.

Thirty-nine percent would have no hitch in buying products of their choice offline too though they preferred purchasing online because it offered convenience.

However, consumers of the age 35-plus were the most uncomfortable buying offline. Ninty-one percent respondents said they would not want to buy offline.

Overall, there was hardly any difference between responses of men or women. While 73 percent men said they would be uncomfortable buying offline, 77 percent women said they would prefer to buy online.